Kerala is reeling under intense heat with the mercury scaling up in most places across the State, testing the endurance of residents and travellers alike.
With the temperature soaring high, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a critical three-day warning for hot and humid conditions for Kerala as temperatures across the State climb significantly above seasonal norms.
Speaking to the Press Trust of India, Neetha K. Gopal, Director of IMD, Kerala, said the mercury has already hit alarming levels in the southern State.
“Majority of the districts in Kerala will experience higher than normal temperatures on Monday, Tuesday, and the day after,” she stated.
On Sunday, Punalur reported a maximum of 38.4 degree celsius, while Kottayam reached 37.8 degree celsius—staggering 3 degrees above the usual value for this time of year, she said.
The heat is proving particularly grueling, for those whose livelihoods depend on the outdoors.
Laborers like Sundaran, Selvaraj, and Sivakumar, who work daily under the open sky here, described a battle against physical exhaustion.
“This hard summer is testing our stamina,” they shared while taking a brief break.
“We are bound to endure the heat, so we drink more and more water just to fight the tiredness. Even if we forget to eat our meals, the thirst is constant,” the labourers said.
The tropical intensity is also catching visitors off guard in the State.
Travellers arriving from Uttar Pradesh to visit Kerala’s famed temples expressed shock at the conditions.
“We can’t stand the heat here. The temperature in U.P. is not this harsh; this is testing us,” a visitor remarked.
Even the State’s traditional cooling remedies are under threat.
In Thiruvananthapuram, tender coconut vendor Omana is facing a hurdle of her own.
Despite high demand between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., she is struggling to keep her stall stocked.
“I can’t meet the demands because distribution is hit by an unexpected shortage,” Ms. Omana explained.
“We collect from hometowns, local markets, and even vendors in Kanyakumari, but it is still not enough,” she said.
Looking ahead, the IMD predicts a brief window of relief with light to moderate rainfall expected on the March 27 and 28.
However, Ms. Gopal cautioned that this respite will be short-lived.
“After those two days, rains will reduce and temperatures will increase again. We are not anticipating much rain this week, and northern Kerala in particular will continue to see higher temperatures,” she explained.
As for the long-term outlook, the public will have to wait, the expert added.
Published – March 23, 2026 09:21 pm IST
